Dec 18th: FY 2026 Recommended Operating Budget

[Anonymous]

Consulting teachers - that whole department should go. Allow staff development teachers back to full time and allow them to take the caseload of teachers who qualify for consulting teachers at their school.

Between that and the equity office that has to be at least 40 teachers plus any+ administrative staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

I know folks are concerned about the ES class size, but honest secondary needs some major relief. MS class sizes are above 30 in some classes. Teachers do not want to teach English classes because the work load is so large and they already aren't giving meaningful feedback which is causing students who care to show up during lunch and planning time. Many schools are overcrowded.

They need more than one teacher if the class size is that large.

Some have that and it’s still not enough. This is 30-40 students times 5 classes. And let’s not even talk about what this is doing to some Science classes. Even if 2 teachers you still need space and equipment to be able to do experiments.

What experiments or labs? In bio and chemistry we have had none so far.

[Anonymous]

What are consulting teachers? Are they MCPS teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Wouldn't that be the capital budget, rather than the operating budget?

The part that is operating budget not paying for the salaries of the staff from that building. So cafeteria staff, front desk, health room, janitorial, administrative etc…. And of course eliminating some teaching positions. Add in no upkeep, no utilities, no HVAC and no busses to that location The capital budget savings is on not doing any scheduled capital improvement projects. Closing an underutilized school when other nearby schools have enough capacity is a huge cost savings. Of course it stinks for the kids who were walking distance from the closed school. And it stinks for staff who hopefully all could be reassigned to schools with openings instead of loosing their jobs but fiscally it makes no sense to keep a school open that is under capacity and projected to remain that way or in the case of what MCPS shows for some areas continue shrinking. With budget constraints if taxes are not raised, MCPS can’t afford not to make the hard choices such as closing under capacity schools in geographies shown to have continued shirking school age population.

[Anonymous]

How about restorative justice coaches. They can go back to the classroom too. Also, the SSL office. We can also cut the NEC and the DCC offices. Why do we have the consortiums anyway? Kids mostly choose schools off of where their friends are going and who has the best sports teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

I know folks are concerned about the ES class size, but honest secondary needs some major relief. MS class sizes are above 30 in some classes. Teachers do not want to teach English classes because the work load is so large and they already aren't giving meaningful feedback which is causing students who care to show up during lunch and planning time. Many schools are overcrowded.

If you look at school capacity many other middle schools are well under capacity. MCPS needs better boundaries so the under capacity schools can relieve the overcapacity schools. It is logistical issue not one of overall MCPS not have enough middle schools. As for the class sizes, they are large since last year to save class sizes were increased so that overall less teachers were needed. I very much hopemmomeymcan be found in cuts elsewhere so that class sizes can be shrunk again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Too many kids take Ap calculus. Problem with MC is transportation and times of classes available. They should make all the hs schedules the same and offer classes through MCPS virtual that they don’t offer through the homeschools. They pay Mc fo those classes so it’s not a cost savings.

I think MCPS keeps AP calc but not the classes above that. Most schools can fill a full AP Calc classroom but not a linear equations class. Make sense to keep AP level classes at MCPS, plus offering those classes and having kids score well looks good for MCPS. But for classes above AP, using MC is a cost savings since they are not responsible for those testers salaries, health are pensions. It costs less to pay MC than it does to pay MCPS teachers. The teacher cost is salary plus benefits package that includes pension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Wouldn't that be the capital budget, rather than the operating budget?

The part that is operating budget not paying for the salaries of the staff from that building. So cafeteria staff, front desk, health room, janitorial, administrative etc…. And of course eliminating some teaching positions. Add in no upkeep, no utilities, no HVAC and no busses to that location The capital budget savings is on not doing any scheduled capital improvement projects. Closing an underutilized school when other nearby schools have enough capacity is a huge cost savings. Of course it stinks for the kids who were walking distance from the closed school. And it stinks for staff who hopefully all could be reassigned to schools with openings instead of loosing their jobs but fiscally it makes no sense to keep a school open that is under capacity and projected to remain that way or in the case of what MCPS shows for some areas continue shrinking. With budget constraints if taxes are not raised, MCPS can’t afford not to make the hard choices such as closing under capacity schools in geographies shown to have continued shirking school age population.

Sure, in theory, but the capital budget was just approved without anything about closing any schools, so this is all moot.

[Anonymous]

+100 to consulting teachers, inefficient and ineffective

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Wouldn't that be the capital budget, rather than the operating budget?

The part that is operating budget not paying for the salaries of the staff from that building. So cafeteria staff, front desk, health room, janitorial, administrative etc…. And of course eliminating some teaching positions. Add in no upkeep, no utilities, no HVAC and no busses to that location The capital budget savings is on not doing any scheduled capital improvement projects. Closing an underutilized school when other nearby schools have enough capacity is a huge cost savings. Of course it stinks for the kids who were walking distance from the closed school. And it stinks for staff who hopefully all could be reassigned to schools with openings instead of loosing their jobs but fiscally it makes no sense to keep a school open that is under capacity and projected to remain that way or in the case of what MCPS shows for some areas continue shrinking. With budget constraints if taxes are not raised, MCPS can’t afford not to make the hard choices such as closing under capacity schools in geographies shown to have continued shirking school age population.

Sure, in theory, but the capital budget was just approved without anything about closing any schools, so this is all moot.

The CIP budget is approved to move to the county council. But if not enough money comes from county council it will be modified. Basically the BOE approved the superintendent’s approved CIP and that now moves to county but none of that matters if they do not get enough money from the county. If they do not get enough funds they then will have to revise to fund the most pressing CIP needs. The approved budget is just a pipe dream unless they get the money.

In the Wootton cluster elementary school capacity is at around 75 percent. If you closed one school the remainder could easily accommodate those students. I know pretty much nothing and can see the cost savings that could then go to not doing the CIP feasibility studies and any resulting work on either Dufief or Coldspring — both of which are scheduled for that. This money could go elsewhere. And then for operating budget the staff reduction and elimination of daily operating cost would be huge. I am not proposing this, just saying huh if I see this then it is pretty obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Wouldn't that be the capital budget, rather than the operating budget?

The part that is operating budget not paying for the salaries of the staff from that building. So cafeteria staff, front desk, health room, janitorial, administrative etc…. And of course eliminating some teaching positions. Add in no upkeep, no utilities, no HVAC and no busses to that location The capital budget savings is on not doing any scheduled capital improvement projects. Closing an underutilized school when other nearby schools have enough capacity is a huge cost savings. Of course it stinks for the kids who were walking distance from the closed school. And it stinks for staff who hopefully all could be reassigned to schools with openings instead of loosing their jobs but fiscally it makes no sense to keep a school open that is under capacity and projected to remain that way or in the case of what MCPS shows for some areas continue shrinking. With budget constraints if taxes are not raised, MCPS can’t afford not to make the hard choices such as closing under capacity schools in geographies shown to have continued shirking school age population.

Sure, in theory, but the capital budget was just approved without anything about closing any schools, so this is all moot.

The CIP budget is approved to move to the county council. But if not enough money comes from county council it will be modified. Basically the BOE approved the superintendent’s approved CIP and that now moves to county but none of that matters if they do not get enough money from the county. If they do not get enough funds they then will have to revise to fund the most pressing CIP needs. The approved budget is just a pipe dream unless they get the money.

In the Wootton cluster elementary school capacity is at around 75 percent. If you closed one school the remainder could easily accommodate those students. I know pretty much nothing and can see the cost savings that could then go to not doing the CIP feasibility studies and any resulting work on either Dufief or Coldspring — both of which are scheduled for that. This money could go elsewhere. And then for operating budget the staff reduction and elimination of daily operating cost would be huge. I am not proposing this, just saying huh if I see this then it is pretty obvious.

Lynne Harris suggested closing Cold Spring and then she was voted out of office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are consulting teachers? Are they MCPS teachers?

"The Consulting Teacher will provide assistance to two Categories of MCPS teachers: new teachers and those teachers who have been identified as below standard or underperforming. Consulting Teachers will observe classroom performance and will provide feedback to teachers assigned to their caseload, will build the teacher’s knowledge base and repertoire of teaching skills, and will support the teacher’s efforts for improved student achievement."

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/professionalgrowth/teachers/faq/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consulting teachers - that whole department should go. Allow staff development teachers back to full time and allow them to take the caseload of teachers who qualify for consulting teachers at their school.

Between that and the equity office that has to be at least 40 teachers plus any+ administrative staff.

Wowza. Look at that. I'm sure an additional 40 teachers could definitely be put to good use in MCPS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Wouldn't that be the capital budget, rather than the operating budget?

The part that is operating budget not paying for the salaries of the staff from that building. So cafeteria staff, front desk, health room, janitorial, administrative etc…. And of course eliminating some teaching positions. Add in no upkeep, no utilities, no HVAC and no busses to that location The capital budget savings is on not doing any scheduled capital improvement projects. Closing an underutilized school when other nearby schools have enough capacity is a huge cost savings. Of course it stinks for the kids who were walking distance from the closed school. And it stinks for staff who hopefully all could be reassigned to schools with openings instead of loosing their jobs but fiscally it makes no sense to keep a school open that is under capacity and projected to remain that way or in the case of what MCPS shows for some areas continue shrinking. With budget constraints if taxes are not raised, MCPS can’t afford not to make the hard choices such as closing under capacity schools in geographies shown to have continued shirking school age population.

How many schools are under capacity and can the surrounding schools absorb new students, probably not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Wouldn't that be the capital budget, rather than the operating budget?

The part that is operating budget not paying for the salaries of the staff from that building. So cafeteria staff, front desk, health room, janitorial, administrative etc…. And of course eliminating some teaching positions. Add in no upkeep, no utilities, no HVAC and no busses to that location The capital budget savings is on not doing any scheduled capital improvement projects. Closing an underutilized school when other nearby schools have enough capacity is a huge cost savings. Of course it stinks for the kids who were walking distance from the closed school. And it stinks for staff who hopefully all could be reassigned to schools with openings instead of loosing their jobs but fiscally it makes no sense to keep a school open that is under capacity and projected to remain that way or in the case of what MCPS shows for some areas continue shrinking. With budget constraints if taxes are not raised, MCPS can’t afford not to make the hard choices such as closing under capacity schools in geographies shown to have continued shirking school age population.

Sure, in theory, but the capital budget was just approved without anything about closing any schools, so this is all moot.

The CIP budget is approved to move to the county council. But if not enough money comes from county council it will be modified. Basically the BOE approved the superintendent’s approved CIP and that now moves to county but none of that matters if they do not get enough money from the county. If they do not get enough funds they then will have to revise to fund the most pressing CIP needs. The approved budget is just a pipe dream unless they get the money.

In the Wootton cluster elementary school capacity is at around 75 percent. If you closed one school the remainder could easily accommodate those students. I know pretty much nothing and can see the cost savings that could then go to not doing the CIP feasibility studies and any resulting work on either Dufief or Coldspring — both of which are scheduled for that. This money could go elsewhere. And then for operating budget the staff reduction and elimination of daily operating cost would be huge. I am not proposing this, just saying huh if I see this then it is pretty obvious.

Lynne Harris suggested closing Cold Spring and then she was voted out of office.

She was voted out for many reasons, not just that.